Emmys.
Sorry, I only watch comedies:
Outstanding Comedy Series: 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Glee, The Office, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation
Will Win: Modern Family
Should Win: Parks and Recreation
Actually Should Win: Community
Modern Family will win because its a nice, critic-supported family comedy. Parks is the best of the nominated shows, and is some really amazing television, I think its the second best sitcom on TV. But Community was shafted. Its the most innovative comedy on TV, and really deserves to be recognized. Also, Louie really deserved a nomination, and if I got to base it on the second season I’d say its the best show on television, but these awards cover last year, so I can’t give it the win over Community.
Outstanding Lead Performance In a Comedy Series, Actor: Alec Baldwin (Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock), Steve Carell (Michael Scott, The Office), Louis CK (Louie, Louie), Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter, The Big Bang Theory), Matt LeBlanc (himself, Episodes), Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory)
Will Win: Steve Carell
Should Win: Louis CK
Actually Should Win: Louis CK
Steve Carell gets the lifetime achievement Emmy here, though I also wouldn’t be surprised is it goes to one of the BBT guys. I think they end up splitting the vote so it goes to Carell. Louie is an amazing show though, and I think he is doing groundbreaking comedic acting. I think he’s got a darkhorse shot at winning this thing. Worth noting, however, is the lack of nomination for Joel McHale for Community. I still would take Louie, but they could have nominated him over one of the Big Bang Theory guys.
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series, Actress: Edie Falco (Jackie Peyton, Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (Liz Lemon, 30 Rock), Laura Linney (Cathy Jamison, The Big C), Melissa McCarthy (Molly Flynn, Mike and Molly), Martha Plimpton (Virginia Chance, Raising Hope), Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation)
Will Win: Laura Linney
Should Win: Amy Poehler
Actually Should Win: Amy Poehler
Honestly, I don’t watch most of the shows that have people nominated. Laura Linney is mostly a guess. I would sort of like to see Tina Fey win if they’re giving it to an establishment choice, but Parks is awesome, and Amy Poehler carries that show in a way that no actor or actress has done since Steve Carell in the first season of The Office. She is just so amazing at playing that character, and has only gotten better as the show has progressed.
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series, Actor: Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy, Modern Family), Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel, Glee), Jon Cryer (Alan Harper, Two and a Half Men), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett, Modern Family), Ed O’Neill (Jay Pritchett, Modern Family), Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker, Modern Family)
Will Win: Jon Cryer
Should Win: Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Actually Should Win: Danny Pudi (Abed Nadir, Community)
The Modern Family contingent splits the vote and Jon Cryer sneaks in to reap the benefits (basically, Jon Cryer wins the “Damn, you put up with Charlie Sheen” award). Jesse Tyler Ferguson us pretty great, and while I think most people who vote for a Modern Family actor vote for Ty Burrell, I think JTF is actually the better actor, Burrell just gets the more classically sitcom-funny scenes whereas JTF plays the straight man (no pun intended). Seriously though, Danny Pudi and Don Glover should be here instead of Colfer and either Stonestreet or O’Neill. That is the best ensemble on television, and I think Pudi perfectly performs the duties of a supporting actor, stealing laughs while playing the straightest straight-man on television.
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series, Actress: Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy, Modern Family), Jane Krakowski (Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock), Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester, Glee), Sofia Vergara (Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Modern Family), Betty White (Elka Ostrovsky, Hot in Cleveland), Kristen Wiig (various characters, Saturday Night Live)
Will Win: Sofia Vergara
Should Win: Sofia Vergara
Actually Should Win: Sofia Vergara
Hey, all three are the same! She’s really the best character on Modern Family that isn’t less than 18 years old, and she plays it beautifully. No one in the Community or Parks and Rec casts are strong enough to really merit the award after not being nominated, Maroney has dropped off, Betty White won’t win because no one watches that show, I think Lynch has a real shot but I hate that show (she’s also hosting). If this were next year I’d say Pamela Adlon for Louie, but all of her awesome stuff was this season.
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series: Justin Timberlake (Saturday Night Live), Will Arnett (Devon Banks, 30 Rock), Matt Damon (Carol Burnett, 30 Rock), Idris Elba (Lenny, The Big C), Zack Galifanakis (Saturday Night Live), Nathan Lane (Pepper Saltzman, Modern Family)
Won (wait, what?): Justin Timberlake
Should Have Won: Nathan Lane
Ok, so apparently they already gave out the Guest performance awards. So, someone already won. I’m sure JT was funny on SNL, I don’t remember. Nathan Lane was really great as Pepper on Modern Family, and I feel like I’ve sort of dumped on MF a lot this post. I don’t want to pick an actually should have won, because I don’t remember every guest actor in every show all year. One that comes to mind though is Levarr Burton playing himself on Community. Its also possible that one of the many, many people who played themself on Louie deserves it.
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series, Actress: Gwyneth Paltrow (Holly Holiday, Glee), Elizabeth Banks (Avery Jessup-Donaghy, 30 Rock), Kristen Chenoweth (April Rhodes, Glee), Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live), Dot Jones (Coach Shannon Beiste, Glee), Cloris Leachman (Maw Maw, Raising Hope)
Won: Gwyneth Paltrow
Should Have Won: Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks was a breath of fresh air in what was otherwise a down season on 30 Rock. As far as non-nominees go, Megan Mullaly is awesome every time she shows up on Parks, and Pamela Adlon may have a better argument as a guest actress than as support for Louie.
So, that’s that. I was going to do writing and directing but they’re impossible to predict and they go by episode and I didn’t want to pick episodes, but the total lack of nominations for Community, especially in writing and directing, is sort of stunning. Also, the second season of Louie was one of the better seasons of television I’ve ever seen, so I predict a major award show breakout next year. I guess we’ll see what goes down around Golden Globes time. I’m sure I’ll write some sort of wrap-up on Sunday night or Monday morning.
